One team, 7,400 km apart

Rally Cycling had a very busy and exciting day of racing with teams competing on two continents! Colin Joyce started the day off with a tenth place finish in the Arctic Race of Norway. Emma White and Sara Poidevin both placed in the top ten at the women’s Colorado Classic and won the Best Young Rider and Most Aggressive jerseys. Also in Colorado, Ty Magner sprinted to sixth place in the men’s race.

Joyce tenth in Norwegian opener

The 184 km first stage of the Arctic Race of Norway started along the Barents Sea in Vadso, and the opening hour of racing, the peloton was battered by crosswinds and a group of 25 went clear. With Rally Cycling missing the split, the team took ownership of the race and chased for most of the day.

Ryan Anderson leading the team chase.

“We missed a big split early on and had to ride Robin, Matteo, Eric, and Ryan,” said Joyce. “They rode like the professionals they are, riding flat out on the front for 150 km. They did an amazing job.”

Colin Joyce and Adam de Vos were the protected riders and entered the final corners in prime position for the uphill sprint. Joyce finishing in tenth, de Vos 16th.

“I’m pleased with giving everything I had for tenth, but just a little bummed after all the work the guys put in,” said Joyce. “I think today would have been a good finish for me, but the legs were just cramping and locking up so bad.”

Stage one of the Colorado Classic featured a 14 km circuit around Vail that included the dirt road climb of Mill Creek and a screeching descent. The women raced four laps for a total of 57 km and 2,567 feet of climbing. In the final lap, a group of 30 riders separated from the main field and contested the finish. Emma White sprinted to seventh place and into the Best Young Rider jersey. Defending Colorado Classic champion Sara Poidevin finished ninth and won Most Aggressive for her exploits during the stage.

The ladies were on the gas all day.“The jersey is really meant for the whole team because we all raced really aggressively today,” said Poidevin. “There were some tights corners going into the climb each lap and we had to make sure the whole team had good position. The finale was just chaotic and we did our best to stay together as a team in the final k.”

On the same 14 km Vail loop, the men went out for eight laps and a total of 103 km and 4,390 feet of climbing. An early breakaway of four riders established itself in the first two laps with stage winner Gage Hecht (Aevolo) being the only survivor. In the field behind, Rob Britton positioned Ty Magner for the field sprint and a sixth-place finish.

Rob Britton leading Ty Magner with one lap to go.

“Rob kept me at the front of the race so I could relax and ride my own pace on the final climb,” said Magner. “He was awesome and left me in a great spot to contest the finish. I felt ten times better today than I did in the Tour of Utah and that’s a huge takeaway from today’s stage. I was in a pretty good spot until the final stretch but chose the wrong side of the road.”